Retainer for box-lids.



W. & W. S. VOLLMER.

RETAINER FOR BOX LIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. m3.

Patented June 29, 1915. 1

THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGIUN, D. c.

WILLIAM VOLLIVIER AND WILLIAM STEINER VOLLMER, OF BURNHAM, PENNSYLVANIA.

RETAINER FOR BOX-LIBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed July 7, 1913. Serial No. 777,748.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VILLIAM VoLLMnn and WILLIAM S. VOLLMER, citizens of the United States, residing in Burnham, county of Burnham, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Retainers for Box-Lids, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates particularly to means for securing lids to the body portions of cigar boxes, but it will be understood that the invention can be used for securing lids to other containers Without departing from the essential features of the invention.

One object of the invention is to dispense with the ordinary nail which is driven through the lid and into the front of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stamped up metal retainer, which can either be clamped to the lid or to the box so as to hold the lid closed, by friction.

These objects we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigar box, showing the lid partly open and illustrating our invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing the lid closed and secured by our improved friction retainers; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, illustrating a portion of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a perspective view of our improved retainer, before being bent; Fig. 5 is a view showing the retainer bent, but not secured to a box lid; Fig. 6 is a view of a modification illustrating the retainer placed on the body of a box instead of on the lid; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the retainer illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the body of the box and 2 is the lid pivoted to the body in the ordinary manner.

33 are the side walls of the box and 4 is the front of the box. The fronts of cigar boxes are generally made of thicker material than the sides so as to allow a nail to be driven through the lids of the boxes and into the front sections without splitting the material of which they are composed.

By our invention, we can make the front 4 of a cigar box the same thickness as the sides 3, as the attaching device does not enter the material, of which the box is made, in such a manner as to injure it.

Referring to Figs. 4: and 5, 5 is the friction retainer made of flat sheet metal, as in Fig. 4:, having two ribs 6 formed thereon in the present instance. Near each end of the retainer are V-shaped prongs 7, punched from the metal as shown in Figs. 4: and 5. The retainers 5 are bent, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and are preferably applied to each end of a lid, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The prongs are forced into the material of the lid, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that when the lid is closed, the ribbed portions 6 of the retainers are forced between the side walls 3 of the box and the lid, thus holding the lid to the box by friction.

The retainers are made of thin sheet metal and the ribs are very slight which makes it possible to easily force the lid into the closed position.

In some instances the retainers 8 may be made as in Figs. 6 and 7 and may be attached to a side wall 3 of the box; a single prong being used and the rib may extend transversely instead of vertically, as in Fig. 1.

While we have shown the prongs V- shaped, the shape may be varied according to circumstances and use.

The retainers 5 are U-shaped and the arms are a distance apart equal to the thickness of the material, but as the retainers are made of thin metal they can be shaped to fit the lid or body of the box.

l/Ve claim:

1. The combination of a box having a lid hinged thereto and a U-shaped sheet metal retainer having means whereby it may be secured either to the edge of the lid or to the body of the box and having a projecting rib extending into the space between the body of the box and the lid and acting to retain the lid in the closed position by friction due to ghe rib being forced into the material of the 2. The combination of a box having a lid hinged thereto and a U-shaped sheet metal retainer having means whereby it is secured to the edge of the lid and having a project names to this specification, in the presence of ing rib at its base, the ribbed portion extwo subscribing Witnesses.

tending between the lid and the body of the WILLIAM VOLLMER. box and acting to retain the lid in the closed WILLIAM STEINER VOLLMER. 5 position by friction due to the rib being Witnesses:

forced into the material of the box. WM. H. WVREN, In testimony whereof, We have signed our W. E. MARTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. G. 

